Data transmission apparatus for transmitting digital video and audio data between respective audio visual apparatuses, and method therefor

ABSTRACT

In a data transmission apparatus for transmitting digital video and audio data, a block forming circuit forms a plurality of data blocks of transmission data composed of at least one of digital video data, digital audio data, and digital auxiliary data related to the digital video data and the digital audio data. Thereafter, a grouping circuit groups a plurality of data blocks outputted from the block forming circuit so as to form transmission group data of one transmission unit block having a time length of approximately one three-hundredth second, and then transmits the transmission group data. Further, a classifying circuit preferably classifies the transmission group data into a plurality of sections, by adding section identification data to each transmission group data.

This is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/884,394,filed Jun. 27, 1997, which is a File Wrapper Continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/272,413, filed Jul. 7, 1994, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data transmission apparatus and amethod for transmitting data, and in particular, to a data transmissionapparatus for transmitting digital video and audio data betweenrespective audio visual apparatuses, such as a digital video cassetterecorder (referred to as a digital VCR) or the like, and a methodtherefor.

2. Description of the Related Art

There has been currently under development of digital VCRs for recordingvideo and audio in a form of digital signals expressed by 0s and 1s,respectively, for the purpose of achieving high-quality video and audio.One of major features of the digital VCRs is that the qualities of videoand audio signals are not deteriorated through dubbing these signals. Inthe digital VCR, an audio signal, a video signal and the other controlsignal or the like are recorded in a form of digital signals on amagnetic tape, respectively.

Since transmission of data is executed in a form of a digital signalbetween the digital VCRs, the transmitted data does not change in thetransmission stage. Therefore, the recorded data can be transmitted asit is from an audio visual apparatus to another audio visual apparatus.

In particular, in a digital VCR for consumer use, the video signal isrecorded onto the magnetic tape in a form of a compressed video signalso that the amount of data to be recorded thereonto can be reduced forthe purpose of reducing the amount of consumption of the magnetic tape.In order to transmit a video signal reproduced by a digital VCRtherefrom to another digital VCR in a form of an analog signal and torecord the transmitted video signal in the latter VCR, the reproducedvideo signal is decompressed so as to be converted into an analog videosignal. The analog video signal is inputted to the digital VCR in whichthe video signal is to be recorded. In the digital VCR, the analog videosignal is converted into a digital video signal so as to be compressedagain. Through the above-mentioned compression and decompressionprocesses, the quality of the image of the video signal may deteriorate.

In the case when transmitting the video signal in a form of a compresseddigital signal, there is a great advantageous effect of causing nodeterioration of the quality of the image thereof due to thetransmission process because the compression and decompression processesare not required.

For the digital VCR is defined a digital interface for transmittingvideo and audio signals in a form of digital signals. In the digitalVCR, one track is segmented into a plurality of sectors, and then asubcode for the video and audio signals, time code, and the like arerecorded in respective sectors. In a general digital interface, data tobe recorded in the sectors are transmitted in a predetermined order.

The first problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows.When one field is a transmission unit, the period of one field isgreatly different between the television broadcasting system having aframe frequency of 25 Hz such as SECAM system, PAL system or the likeand another television broadcasting system having a frame frequency of30 Hz such as NTSC system. Therefore, a time interval required fortransmitting one transmission unit is greatly different depending on thetelevision broadcasting system.

When transmitting data of a plurality of television broadcasting systemsby means of an identical transmission medium between a plurality ofaudio visual apparatuses such as digital VCRs or the like, there is sucha problem that the time interval for transmitting one transmission dataunit is required to cope with a plurality of types of the transmissiontime.

The second problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows.In the case of implementing a digital VCR for consumer use, it may berequired to transmit video and audio signals of both of thehigh-definition television (HDTV) broadcasting system such asHigh-Vision system or the like and the current television broadcastingsystem such as NTSC system or the like between a plurality of digitalVCRs or the like. In order to achieve cost reduction, it is required toprovide an identical transmission path line in both of the case wherethe signals of the current television broadcasting system aretransmitted and the case where the signals of the high-definitiontelevision broadcasting system are transmitted. However, the amount ofinformation of the video signal of the high-definition televisionbroadcasting system is much greater than that of the current televisionbroadcasting system. Since the amount of data is greatly differentbetween the signals of the high-definition television broadcastingsystem and the signals of the current television broadcasting system,there is such a problem that data of the signals of the currenttelevision broadcasting system and the data of the signals of thehigh-definition television broadcasting system are compelled to betransmitted in different manners.

The third problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows.Since any conventional digital VTR copes with only the standardtelevision signal such as an NTSC television signal, a SECAM televisionsignal, a PAL television signal or the like, then the other type ofinputted signal cannot be recorded in the conventional digital VTR. Onthe other hand, in order to increase the number of types of signalswhich can be inputted and recorded onto a magnetic tape, there has beensuggested a method of changing either the number of sectors or thestructure of sectors in each track. In this case, not only a trackstructure flag representing the number, arrangement and the like ofsectors in a track, but also a sector structure flag representing, foreach sector represented by the track structure flag, the structure ofthe sector are to be recorded within the track on the magnetic tape.

However, the conventional digital interface has such a problem that itcannot cope with the change of such track structure as described abovesince it communicates with other apparatuses always in a previouslyfixed format. Furthermore, since all the data including the othersectors are required to be transmitted even in the case where the dataof a specified sector is desired to be transmitted, there is such aproblem that the excessive transmission band for unnecessarytransmission must be provided.

The fourth problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows.In the digital VCR, other than the video and audio signals, not onlyVAUX (Video Auxiliary) data representing the type, kind or the like ofthe television broadcasting system of the video signal, but also AAUX(Audio Auxiliary) data representing the sampling frequency or the likeof the audio signal are additionally recorded onto the magnetic tape.The above-mentioned these information data are very important datanecessary in reproducing the recorded video and audio signals in thereproduction stage. Therefore, the information data are repetitivelyrecorded a plural of times in one frame period of the video signal. Intransmitting the video and audio signals from the digital VCR to anotherdigital VCR, the VAUX and AAUX data corresponding to the video and audiosignals must be additionally transmitted thereto. In general, the dataare transmitted a plurality of times in one frame period in conformitywith the recorded tracks.

However, in a bad reproducing condition, the probability of occurrenceof the phenomenon becomes higher that an error correcting process isexecuted by an error correcting function, wherein the phenomenon isreferred to as an “error correction” hereinafter). Since theerror-corrected data does not allow its error to be detected any more,then the error data is transmitted as it is. When there is no error orwhen an error has occurred and then appropriately corrected, theidentical VAUX and AAUX data are transmitted a plurality of times in oneframe period, and therefore, the proper process is required to beexecuted in response to the received data on the receiver side.

However, when the error correction is performed, there is such apossibility that different VAUX and AAUX data or the like aretransmitted in one frame period. In such a case, it is impossible todiscriminate which VAUX and AAUX data are correct on the receiver side,and then this results in such a problem that the television broadcastingsystem can not be correctly selected, and the sampling frequency can notbe correctly set.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an essential object ofthe present invention is to provide a data transmission apparatus and amethod capable of transmitting digital video and audio data of aplurality of television broadcasting systems, between a plurality ofaudio visual apparatuses such as digital VCRs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a datatransmission apparatus and a method capable of transmitting digitalvideo and audio data of both of the high-definition televisionbroadcasting system and the current television broadcasting system,between a plurality of audio visual apparatuses such as digital VCRs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a datatransmission apparatus and a method having a flexibility of datatransmission, capable of transmitting a part or the whole part ofvarious kinds of data with changing a data format thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a datatransmission apparatus and a method capable of transmitting theidentical additional data such as the VAUX data, the AAUX data or thelike, together with digital video and audio data, by unifying theadditional data in one frame

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided adata transmission apparatus comprising:

block forming means for forming a plurality of data blocks oftransmission data composed of at least one of digital video data,digital audio data, and digital auxiliary data related to said digitalvideo data and said digital audio data, and outputting said plurality ofdata blocks; and

grouping means for grouping said plurality of data blocks outputted fromsaid block forming means so as to form transmission group data of onetransmission unit block having a time length of approximately onethree-hundredth second, and for transmitting said transmission groupdata.

Further, there is provided a method of transmitting data, including thesteps of:

forming a plurality of data blocks of transmission data composed of atleast one of digital video data, digital audio data, and digitalauxiliary data related to said digital video data and said digital audiodata, and outputting said plurality of data blocks;

grouping said plurality of data blocks so as to form transmission groupdata of one transmission unit block having a time length ofapproximately one three-hundredth second; and

transmitting said transmission group data.

The present invention has such an advantageous effect as enablingtransmission of the digital video and audio data of all the televisionbroadcasting systems having frame frequencies of 25 Hz and 30 Hz bydealing with transmission executed approximately every onethree-hundredth second.

The above-mentioned data transmission apparatus preferably furthercomprises classifying means for classifying said transmission group datainto a plurality of sections, by adding section identification data toeach said transmission group data.

The above-mentioned method preferably further includes a step ofclassifying said transmission group data into a plurality of sections,by adding section identification data to each said transmission groupdata.

The present invention produces such an advantageous effect of enablingtransmission of the video and audio data of, for example, thehigh-definition television broadcasting system in a manner similar tothat in the current broadcasting system by transmitting the digitalvideo and audio data through classification thereof into a plurality ofsections in such a case as the high-definition television broadcastingsystem having a great number of data blocks to be transmitted.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a datatransmission apparatus for transmitting inputted digital data to berecorded in a plurality of sectors of each track on a recording medium,together with inputted first application ID data representing astructure of each said track and inputted second application ID datarepresenting a structure of each of said sectors, comprising:

DIF-ID generating means for generating digital interface ID dataincluding said inputted second application ID data, in response to saidinputted second application ID data;

at least one block forming means for forming a data block including saiddigital data to be recorded and said digital interface ID data generatedby said DIF-ID generating means, and outputting said data block;

header DIF block generating means for generating header digitalinterface block data including said inputted first application ID data;and

grouping multiplexing means for time-multiplexing said header digitalinterface block data generated by said header DIF block generating meansand said data block generated by said block forming means to formtransmission digital data so that said data block follows said headerdigital interface block data, and transmitting said transmission digitaldata.

In the above-mentioned data transmission apparatus, said DIF-IDgenerating means preferably generates digital interface ID dataincluding said inputted second application ID data and a transmissionflag, in response to said inputted second application ID data andinputted transmission flag, said transmission flag representing whetheror not data, to be recorded in a sector represented by said secondapplication ID data which is in a track represented by said firstapplication ID data within said header digital interface block datagenerated by said header DIF block generating means, is to betransmitted.

In the above-mentioned data transmission apparatus, said header DIFblock generating means preferably generates header digital interfaceblock data including application ID data representing that said firstapplication ID data is indefinite, when said first application ID datais indefinite.

In the above-mentioned data transmission apparatus, said DIF-IDgenerating means preferably generates digital interface ID dataincluding application ID data representing that said second applicationID data is indefinite, when said second application ID data isindefinite.

The data transmission apparatus preferably further comprises:

memory means for storing said first and second application ID data;

wherein said DIF-ID generating means generates digital interface ID dataincluding said second application ID data of the previous sector storedin said memory means, when there is no inputted second application IDdata, and

wherein said header DIF block generating means generates header digitalinterface block data including said first application ID data of theprevious track stored in said memory means, when there is no inputtedfirst application ID data.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for transmitting inputted digital data to be recordedin a plurality of sectors of each track on a recording medium, togetherwith inputted first application ID data representing a structure of eachsaid track and inputted second application ID data representing astructure of each of said sectors, including the steps of:

generating digital interface ID data including said inputted secondapplication ID data, in response to said inputted second application IDdata;

forming a data block including said digital data to be recorded and saiddigital interface ID data generated in said generating digital interfaceID data step, and outputting said data block;

generating header digital interface block data including said inputtedfirst application ID data; and

time-multiplexing said header digital interface block data generated insaid generating header digital interface block data step and said datablock generated in said forming step to form transmission digital dataso that said data block follows said header digital interface blockdata, and transmitting said transmission digital data.

In the above-mentioned method, said generating digital interface ID datastep preferably includes a step of generating digital interface ID dataincluding said inputted second application ID data and a transmissionflag, in response to said inputted second application ID data andinputted transmission flag, said transmission flag representing whetheror not data, to be recorded in a sector represented by said secondapplication ID data which is in a track represented by said firstapplication ID data within said header digital interface block datagenerated in said generating header digital interface block data step,is to be transmitted.

In the above-mentioned method, said generating header digital interfaceblock data step preferably includes a step of generating digitalinterface block data including application ID data representing thatsaid first application ID data is indefinite, when said firstapplication ID data is indefinite.

In the above-mentioned method, said generating digital interface ID datastep preferably includes a step of generating digital interface ID dataincluding application ID data representing that said second applicationID data is indefinite, when said second application ID data isindefinite.

The above-mentioned method preferably further includes a step of:

storing said first and second application ID data in memory means;

wherein said generating digital interface ID data step includes a stepof generating digital interface ID data including said secondapplication ID data of the previous sector stored in said memory means,when there is no inputted second application ID data, and

wherein said generating header digital interface block data stepincludes a step of generating header digital interface block dataincluding said first application ID data of the previous track stored insaid memory means, when there is no inputted first application ID data.

With the above-mentioned arrangement, therefore, by receiving the headerdigital interface (DIF) block data, the structure such as a format ofthe data block subsequent to the header DIF block can be identified.Therefore, according to the present invention, for example, no matterhow the recording format changes, the digital interface format can bechanged into a format appropriate for the recording format.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a data transmission apparatus for transmitting inputted digitalvideo data and digital audio data together with inputted digitalauxiliary data related to said digital video data and said digital audiodata, said digital auxiliary data being transmitted a plurality of timesin one frame, comprising:

at least one data extracting means for extracting said inputted digitalauxiliary data from input data including said digital video data, saiddigital audio data and said digital auxiliary data;

at least one majority means for counting the respective numbers of thedigital auxiliary data having the same contents among a plurality ofinputted digital auxiliary data, and selecting and outputting theauxiliary data of the greatest counted number in one frame;

delay means for delaying said input data including said digital videodata, said digital audio data and said digital auxiliary data by a timeinterval of one frame, and outputting said input data; and

switching means for switching said input data outputted from said delaymeans and said auxiliary data of the greatest counted number in oneframe outputted from said majority means, so as to output and transmitsaid digital video data, said digital audio data and said digitalauxiliary data, together with said auxiliary data of the greatestcounted number in one frame outputted from said majority means, byreplacing said auxiliary data included in said input data, with saidauxiliary data of the greatest counted number in one frame outputtedfrom said majority means.

In the above-mentioned data transmission apparatus, said majority meanspreferably counts the respective numbers of the digital auxiliary datahaving the same contents related to said audio data, every channel ofsaid audio data, among a plurality of inputted digital auxiliary datarelated to said audio data, and selects and outputs the auxiliary dataof the greatest counted number in one frame which is related to saidaudio data.

According to a still more further aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a method for transmitting inputted digital video data anddigital audio data together with inputted digital auxiliary data relatedto said digital video data and said digital audio data, said digitalauxiliary data being transmitted a plurality of times in one frame,including:

extracting said inputted digital auxiliary data from input dataincluding said digital video data, said digital audio data and saiddigital auxiliary data;

counting the respective numbers of the digital auxiliary data having thesame contents among a plurality of inputted digital auxiliary data, andselecting and outputting the auxiliary data of the greatest countednumber in one frame;

delaying said input data including said digital video data, said digitalaudio data and said digital auxiliary data by a time interval of oneframe, and outputting said input data; and

switching said delayed input data and said outputted auxiliary data ofthe greatest counted number in one frame, so as to output and transmitsaid digital video data, said digital audio data and said digitalauxiliary data, together with said outputted auxiliary data of thegreatest counted number in one frame, by replacing said auxiliary dataincluded in said input data, with said outputted auxiliary data of thegreatest counted number in one frame.

In the above-mentioned method, said counting step preferably includes astep of counting the respective numbers of the digital auxiliary datahaving the same contents related to said audio data, every channel ofsaid audio data, among a plurality of inputted digital auxiliary datarelated to said audio data, and selecting and outputting the auxiliarydata of the greatest counted number in one frame which is related tosaid audio data.

According to the present invention, in regard to important auxiliarydata which have identical contents and recorded a plurality of times inone frame on a recording medium such as magnetic tape, when auxiliarydata having different contents are reproduced within one frame due toreproduction error or the like, the auxiliary data are transmitted withtheir contents unified to the contents presumed to be most accurate.With the above-mentioned arrangement, the auxiliary data havingidentical contents can be obtained on the receiver side, for example,thereby allowing a digital VCR to be set based on the auxiliary data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description taken in conjunction withthe preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplified connectionbetween a plurality of audio visual apparatuses 101 to 104;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a structure of a digital VCR102 of a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a VCR circuit 202 shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a magnetic tape 400 showing a track format ofthe digital VCR on the magnetic tape 400 on which the VCR circuit 202shown in FIG. 3 records data;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a data format of an audio sector402 to be recorded in each track of the magnetic tape 400;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a data format of a video sector403 to be recorded in each track of the magnetic tape 400;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a data format of a subcode sector404 to be recorded in each track of the magnetic tape 400;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a data format of a PACK includedin the tape format;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing a DIF circuit 201 shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram showing a transmission unit dataconstituting circuit 901 of the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG.9;

FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram showing a data format of a Sync blockstructure of video and audio data to be recorded onto the magnetic tape400 and to be reproduced from the magnetic tape 400;

FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram showing a data format of a DIF blockstructure of video and audio data outputted from block forming circuits1004 and 1005 shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 11C is a schematic diagram showing a data format of a Sync blockstructure of subcode data to be recorded onto the magnetic tape 400 andto be reproduced from the magnetic tape 400;

FIG. 11D is a schematic diagram showing a data format of a DIF blockstructure of subcode data outputted from block forming circuits 1004 and1005 shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a data format of a transmissionunit block structure formed by the transmission unit data constitutingcircuit 901 shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram showing a transmission unit dataconstituting circuit 901 a of a second preferred embodiment according tothe present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a data format of a transmissionunit block structure formed by the transmission unit data constitutingcircuit 901 a shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram showing a transmission unit dataconstituting circuit 901 b of a third preferred embodiment according tothe present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram showing a transmission unit dataconstituting circuit 901 c of a fourth preferred embodiment according tothe present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram showing a PACK correction circuit902 shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram showing a digital VCR of amodification of the preferred embodiment according to the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 19A, 19B, 19C, 19D, 19E and 19F are timing charts of respectiveblocks of a transmission unit block showing an operation of thetransmission unit data constituting circuit 901 of the first preferredembodiment shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will bedescribed below in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows an exemplified connection between a plurality of audiovisual apparatuses such as digital VCRs or the like, and in particular,four audio visual apparatuses 101 to 104 are shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the audio visual apparatuses 101, 102, 103 and 104are connected by way of respective line cables 105. The audio visualapparatuses 101, 102, 103 and 104 are the apparatuses capable ofinputting and outputting information of video and audio in a form ofdigital signals. The apparatuses 101 to 104 are, for example, digitalVCRs.

Reference is made to the audio visual apparatuses taking an audio visualapparatus 102 shown in FIG. 2 as an example. In FIG. 2, the audio visualapparatus 102 is a digital VCR, which comprises a digital interfacecircuit (DIF circuit) 201 and a VCR circuit 202. A video signal and anaudio signal are recorded in a form of digital signals onto a magnetictape by the VCR circuit 202. Not only the video and audio data whichhave been subject to a digital signal process and are to be recordedinto the magnetic tape, but also the video and audio data reproducedfrom the magnetic tape are inputted to the digital interface circuit201, and then are transmitted from the digital interface circuit 201 toanother audio visual apparatus (for example, 103) by way of the cable105.

FIG. 3 shows the VCR circuit 202 shown in FIG. 2.

First of all, reference is made to an operation of the VCR circuit 202in the recording stage. A video signal is inputted as an analog signalto a video signal input and output circuit 301, and then the videosignal is converted into a digital signal by the video signal input andoutput circuit 301. Thereafter, the converted digital video signal isinputted to a compression and decompression circuit 303, and then thedigital video signal is data-compressed by the compression anddecompression circuit 303, resulting in obtaining a reduced data volumeof the digital video signal.

Further, an analog audio signal is inputted to an audio signal input andoutput circuit 302, and then the analog audio signal is converted into adigital audio signal by the audio signal input and output circuit 302.Thereafter, an audio signal processing circuit 304 performs apredetermined signal process on the digital audio signal inputted fromthe audio signal input and output circuit 302.

Further, a subcode processing circuit 305 generates data of time codeand the like. To an error correction encoding and decoding circuit 306are inputted the video data and the audio data from the compression anddecompression circuit 303 and the audio signal processing circuit 304,whereas the subcode data is inputted from the subcode processing circuit305 to the error correction encoding and decoding circuit 306. Then theerror correction encoding and decoding circuit 306 performs an errorcorrection encoding process on the data inputted from the compressionand decompression circuit 303, the audio signal processing circuit 304,and the subcode processing circuit 305.

Furthermore, a modulation and demodulation circuit 307 modulates acarrier signal according to the data which has undergone the errorcorrection encoding process and are inputted from the error correctionencoding and decoding circuit 306. Thereafter, a recording andreproducing circuit 308 records the signal modulated by the modulationand demodulation circuit 307 onto a magnetic tape with a set of magneticheads (not shown).

On the other hand, reference is made to an operation of the VCR circuit202 in the reproducing stage.

The recording and reproducing circuit 308 reproduces the signal recordedon the magnetic tape with a set of magnetic heads (not shown), and thenthe modulation and demodulation circuit 307 demodulates the reproducedmodulated signal inputted from the recording and reproducing circuit 308so as to obtain demodulated digital data. The digital data demodulatedby the modulation and demodulation circuit 307 undergoes a decodingprocess in the error correction encoding and decoding circuit 306. Inthe decoding process, when an error exists within the demodulateddigital data, the error is corrected. When the error cannot becorrected, there is performed a process of replacing the error with datapresumed to be most accurate. Further, the decoded video data isinputted to the compression and decompression circuit 303, in which thecompressed data is decompressed and then the decompressed data isoutputted to the video signal input and output circuit 301. Thereafter,the video signal input and output circuit 301 converts the inputtedvideo data into an analog signal. Then the decoded audio signal isinputted to the audio signal processing circuit 304, and then undergoesa predetermined process, thereafter, the processed audio signal beingoutputted to the audio signal input and output circuit 302. Thereafter,the audio signal input and output circuit 302 converts the inputteddigital audio data into an analog signal.

Further, the decoded subcode data is inputted to the subcode processingcircuit 305, and then undergoes a predetermined process.

In outputting data reproduced by the VCR circuit 201 from the digitalVCR to another digital VCR in a form of a digital signal, the audiodata, the video data and the subcode data outputted from the errorcorrection encoding and decoding circuit 306 are outputted to thedigital interface circuit 201 in the present preferred embodiment,together with timing signals.

The digital interface circuit 201 transmits these data to anotherdigital VCR. When the video data, the audio data, the subcode data, andthe like are inputted and received in a form of digital signals,respectively, from another digital VCR and then are recorded onto themagnetic tape. The digital interface circuit 201 receives these datatransmitted from another digital VCR, and transmits these data to theerror correction encoding and decoding circuit 306. Since the videosignal is transmitted in a form of a compressed digital video signal inthe present preferred embodiment, there occurs no deterioration of thequality of the image or the video signal upon transmitting the videosignal to another digital VCR so far as an error takes place on thetransmission line of the line cable 105.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a magnetic tape 400 showing a track format ofthe digital VCR on the magnetic tape 400 on which the VCR circuit 202shown in FIG. 3 records data.

Referring to FIG. 4, each track comprises an ITI sector 401, an audiosector 402, a video sector 403, and a subcode sector 404. In the ITIsector 401, there are recorded not only data for correctly executinginsert but also data representing a sector structure subsequent to theITI sector. The data representing the sector structure indicates thatthe audio sector, the video sector, and the subcode sector exist behindthe ITI sector.

In the television broadcasting system of 525 horizontal scanning linesand a field frequency of 60 Hz, one frame is composed of 10 tracks. Inthe television broadcasting system of 625 horizontal scanning lines anda field frequency of 50 Hz, one frame is composed of 12 tracks.Similarly in the high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasting systemof 1125 horizontal scanning line and a field frequency of 60 Hz which iscalled a high vision broadcasting system, one frame is composed of 20tracks. In the high-definition television broadcasting system of 1250horizontal scanning lines and a field frequency of 50 Hz, one frame iscomposed of 24 tracks. In detail, the amount of data to be recorded ineach of the high-definition television broadcasting system is just twotimes as great as that of each of the corresponding current televisionbroadcasting systems. Further, it is noted that each sector is composedof a plurality of sync blocks.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 show data formats of respective sectors to berecorded in each track of the magnetic tape 400, wherein bit sequence ofeach data format is transmitted, namely, recorded or reproduced, in thehorizontal direction from the left to the right, and in the verticaldirection from the bottom to the top.

FIG. 5 shows a data format of an audio sector 402 to be recorded in eachtrack of the magnetic tape 400.

Referring to FIG. 5, the audio sector is composed of 14 sync blocks,each sync block having a length of 90 bytes. The 14 sync blocks includesnine sync blocks comprising audio data and AAUX data includingadditional information related to the audio data, and five sync blocksof outer parity which is a parity for error correction for theabove-mentioned nine sync blocks.

Each sync block is composed of:

(a) a two-byte sync pattern for sync block synchronization;

(b) a three-byte of an ID (Identification Data) which includesinformation for identifying each track and each sync block;

(c) a 77-byte data which is either the AAUX data and the audio data orthe outer parity; and

(d) an eight-byte inner parity for error correction for theabove-mentioned 77-byte data.

The first five bytes of the above-mentioned 77-byte data represent theAAUX data related to the audio data to be recorded on the magnetic tape,and the other last 72-bytes thereof represent the audio data, whereinthe AAUX data includes (a) information of a sampling frequency of theaudio data; (b) information of a reproducing speed; and (c) informationof the number of the channels of the audio data etc.

FIG. 6 shows a data format of the video sector 403 to be recorded ineach track of the magnetic tape 400.

Referring to FIG. 6, the video sector is composed of 149 sync blocks,each sync block having a length of 90 bytes. The 149 sync blocksincludes:

(a) 135 sync blocks of video data;

(b) three sync blocks of the VAUX data which are additional auxiliarydata related to the video data to be recorded on the magnetic tape,wherein the VAUX data include information of the television broadcastingsystem of the video data, information of an input source such as acamera, a television tuner, or the like, and the other information; and

(c) 11 sync blocks of outer parity for error correction for not only thevideo data to be recorded in the above-mentioned 135 sync blocks, butalso the VAUX data to be recorded in the above-mentioned three syncblocks.

Each sync block is composed of:

(a) a two-byte sync pattern for sync block synchronization;

(b) a three-byte ID (Identification Data) which includes information foridentifying each track and each sync block;

(c) a 77-byte data which are either one of the video data, the VAUX dataand the outer parity; and

(d) an eight-byte inner parity for error correction for theabove-mentioned 77-byte data; in a manner similar to that of the syncblocks of the audio sector shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a data format of the subcode sector 404 to be recorded ineach track of the magnetic tape 400.

Referring to FIG. 7, the subcode sector is composed of 12 sync blocks,each sync block having a length of 12 bytes. Each sync block is composedof:

(a) a two-byte sync pattern for sync block synchronization;

(b) a three-byte ID (Identification Data) which includes information foridentifying each track and each sync block;

(c) a five-byte data including a time code representing elapsed timefrom the beginning of the magnetic tape, and an absolute track serialnumber from the start end of the magnetic tape; and

(d) a two-byte parity for error correction for the above-mentionedfive-byte data.

The above-mentioned AAUX data, VAUX data and subcode data are arrangedwithin the sync blocks so as to be divided into five-byte data, whereineach five-byte data is called a “PACK”.

FIG. 8 shows a data format of the PACK included in the tape format.

Referring to FIG. 8, the five-byte unit includes (a) a one-byte data 801referred to as a “PACK header” for defining the contents of the PACK;and (b) a four-byte PACK data 802 including information datacorresponding to the PACK header.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of the digital interface (DIF)circuit 201 shown in FIG. 2, in particular, FIG. 9 shows an operation ofthe digital interface circuit 201 upon outputting data to anotherdigital VCR.

Referring to FIG. 9, the digital interface circuit 201 comprises atransmission unit data constituting circuit 901 and a PACK correctioncircuit 902. The audio data, the video data and the subcode datainputted from the VCR circuit 202 are collected in a predeterminedtransmission unit by the transmission unit data constituting circuit901. The PACK correction circuit 902 checks the contents of importantPACKS of the AAUX data, the VAUX data and the subcode data, which are tobe transmitted to another digital VCR, a plurality of times in oneframe. When the PACKs having different contents exist in one frame, thePACK data are unified to be selected so that major identical contentsexist in one frame, as described in detail later.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of the transmission unit dataconstituting circuit 901 of the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG.9

Referring to FIG. 10, the transmission unit data constituting circuit901 comprises a block forming circuit 1004, a block forming circuit1005, a block forming circuit 1006, and a grouping multiplex circuit1010.

Video data 1001 is compressed video data inputted from the compressionand decompression circuit 303 or the error correction encoding anddecoding circuit 306 of the VCR circuit 202. Audio data 1002 is audiodata inputted from the audio signal processing circuit 304 or the errorcorrection encoding and decoding circuit 306 of the VCR circuit 202.Subcode data 1003 is subcode data inputted from the subcode processingcircuit 305 or the error correction encoding and decoding circuit 306 ofthe VCR circuit 202.

The video data 1001, the audio data 1002, and the subcode data 1003 areinputted, respectively, to the block forming circuit 1004, the blockforming circuit 1005, and the block forming circuit 1006, together witha timing signal sent from the VCR circuit 202 so that these data 1001 to1003 can be time-multiplexed by a grouping multiplex circuit 1010 so asnot to be superimposed on each other, as shown in timing charts of FIGS.19A to 19F.

In the present preferred embodiment, there exist the audio sector 402,the video sector 403, and the subcode sector 404 on the magnetic tape400 as shown in FIG. 4, and further in each of the sectors 402 to 404,an application ID which is a sector structure flag representing astructure or composition of each sector is recorded. Hereinafter, theapplication ID of the audio sector 402 is referred to as an “AP1”, theapplication ID of the video sector 403 is referred to as an “AP2”, andsimilarly the application ID of the subcode sector 404 is referred to asan “AP3”. In the ITI sector 401 of each track on the magnetic tape 400,there is recorded an application ID which is a flag representing astructure or composition of each track, such as the number of thesectors, the position of the sector, and the like in the track. Theapplication ID recorded in the ITI sector is referred to as an “APT”hereinafter.

Referring back to FIG. 10, the transmission unit data constitutingcircuit 901 further comprises an application ID input circuit 1020, aDIF-ID generator 1030, and a header DIF block generator 1040, whereinthe above-mentioned timing signal is inputted to these circuits 1020,1030 and 1040 for not only block forming process performed in the blockforming circuits 1004, 1005 and 1006, but also the grouping multiplexprocess performed in the grouping multiplex circuit 1010.

The application ID input circuit 1020 receives the application IDsincluding the APT, the AP1, the AP2 and the AP3 to be recorded onto amagnetic tape or to be reproduced from a magnetic tape, which are sentfrom the VCR circuit 202, and then outputs these application IDs to theDIF block generator 1030 and the header DIF block generator 1040.Further, the DIF block generator 1030 generates a DIF-ID for each sectorbased on the inputted application IDs including the APT, the AP1, theAP2 and the AP3, and then outputs the DIF-ID to the block formingcircuits 1004, 1005 and 1006, thereafter, the DIF-ID being added thereinto form each DIF block.

Furthermore, the header DIF block generator 1040 generates a 80-byteheader DIF block based on the inputted application IDs including theAPT, the AP1, the AP2 and the AP3, and then outputs the header DIF blockto the grouping multiplex circuit 1010, thereafter, the header DIF blockbeing added and time-multiplexed to the other DIF blocks to form eachtransmission block unit therein in a manner as described later.

The block forming circuit 1004 is provided for converting the video data1001 into video data DIF block, and the block forming circuit 1005 isprovided for converting the audio data 1002 into audio data DIF block.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show an operation of the block forming circuits 1004and 1005, and a relationship between a data format of a Sync blockstructure of video and audio data to be recorded onto the magnetic tape400 and to be reproduced from the magnetic tape 400, and a data formatof a DIF block structure of video and audio data outputted from blockforming circuits 1004 and 1005 shown in FIG. 10.

The video data and the audio data to be recorded onto a magnetic tape orto be reproduced from a magnetic tape have sync block structures asshown in FIG. 11A. Each of the block forming circuits 1004 and 1005 addsa 3-byte DIF-ID (Digital Interface Identification data) generated by theDIF-ID generator 1030, to the 77-byte data in the sync block so as toform a 80-byte DIF block, without the sync pattern, the ID and theparity, as shown in FIG. 11B. This 3-byte DIF-ID is identification datafor the 77-byte data.

Further, the block forming circuit 1006 is provided for convertingsubcode data 1003 into a subcode DIF block.

FIGS. 11C and 11D show an operation of the block forming circuit 1006,and a relationship between a data format of a Sync block structure ofsubcode data to be recorded onto the magnetic tape 400 and to bereproduced from the magnetic tape 400, and a data format of a DIF blockstructure of subcode data outputted from block forming circuits 1004 and1005 shown in FIG. 10.

As mentioned above, on the magnetic tape, the subcode sector in onetrack is composed of 12 sync blocks. The block forming circuit 1006constitutes or forms one subcode DIF block from the 3-byte ID and 5-bytedata of six sync blocks selected among the above 12 sync blocks. Inregard to the remaining six sync blocks, another subcode DIF block isconstituted or formed from the 3-byte ID and 5-byte data in the samemanner as described above. In other words, the data in the subcodesector is distributed into two subcode DIF blocks, and then the subcodeDIF blocks are transmitted to another digital VCR.

Before the head of each total six DIF blocks of 48 bytes (=8 bytes×6) isadded a 3-byte DIF-ID (Digital Interface Identification Data) generatedby the DIF-ID generator 1030, while a 29-byte dummy data are addedbehind each total six DIF blocks, then resulting in obtaining a DIFblock length of 80 bytes which is the same length of the video data DIFblock and the audio data DIF block, in the same manner as in the videodata and audio data.

Referring back to FIG. 10, a video data DIF block 1007 outputted fromthe block forming circuit 1004, an audio data DIF block 1008 outputtedfrom the block forming circuit 1005, and subcode data DIF block 1009outputted from the block forming circuit 1006 are inputted to thegrouping multiplex circuit 1010. Then, the grouping multiplex circuit1010 groups the video data DIF block 1007, audio data DIF block 1008,and subcode data DIF block 1009 together with the header DIF block,through time-multiplex process approximately every {fraction (1/300)}second, so as to convert these DIF block 1007 to 1009 and the header DIFblock into transmission group data 1011 of one transmission unit block.In other words, the total time interval length of the transmission groupdata 1011 of one transmission unit block corresponds to about {fraction(1/300)} second.

It is to be noted that the grouping multiplex circuit 1010 adds theheader DIF block generated by the header DIF block generator 1040 to thehead end of each group. The header DIF block is a DIF block having alength of 80 bytes including information representing the contents ofthe transmission unit collected by the grouping multiplex circuit 1010.In this case, a DIF-ID indicating that the DIF block is the header DIFblock is added to the first 3 bytes within the 80 bytes in a mannersimilar to that of the other video, audio and subcode DIF blocks. Thetransmission group data 1011 outputted from the transmission unit dataconstituting circuit 901 is each group outputted every {fraction(1/300)} second to be transmitted from the digital VCR to anotherdigital VCR in the present preferred embodiment.

The time of {fraction (1/300)} second is one tenth of one frame in thetelevision broadcasting system having a frame frequency of 30 Hz, and isone twelfth of one frame in the television broadcasting system having aframe frequency of 50 Hz. In other words, by collecting the video data,the audio data, and the subcode data within one frame into ten or twelvegroups, i.e., ten or twelve transmission group data, an identicaltransmission group data structure of each transmission unit block can beachieved in either the television broadcasting system having a framefrequency of 30 Hz or the television broadcasting system having a framefrequency of 50 Hz.

FIG. 12 shows a data format of a transmission unit block structureformed by the transmission unit data constituting circuit 901 shown inFIG. 10, and FIGS. 19A to 19F are the timing charts showing a processfor forming the transmission group data of one transmission unit blockin the grouping multiplex circuit 1010 shown in FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 12, each transmission group data of one transmissionunit block is composed of a header DIF block 1201 includingidentification data of the group in one frame, a subcode data DIF block1202, a plurality of audio data DIF blocks 1203, and a plurality ofvideo data DIF blocks 1204.

As apparent from the above description, according to a data transmissionapparatus provided with the transmission unit data constituting circuit901 of the first preferred embodiment, the transmission on the videodata, the audio data and the subcode data can be achieved in anidentical manner in both of the television broadcasting system having aframe frequency of 25 Hz and the television broadcasting system having aframe frequency of 30 Hz, thereby obtaining a remarkably greatadvantageous effect of reducing the circuit scale of the datatransmission apparatus.

In the present preferred embodiment, the data transmission is executedwith the application IDs including the APT, the AP1, the AP2 and the AP3representing a track structure and a sector structure arranged in theheader DIF block. With the above-mentioned arrangement, by decoding theheader DIF block on the receiver side, the structure of the DIF blocktransmitted subsequent to the header DIF block can be identified.Therefore, even when the recording format is changed in the recordingapparatus, the change can be managed by changing the application IDsarranged in the header DIF block.

FIG. 17 shows the PACK correction circuit 902 shown in FIG. 9.

The following describes a case where important data such as thetelevision broadcasting system of the video signal, the samplingfrequency of the audio signal, and the number of channels are recordedin two PACKs, i.e., PACK 0 and PACK 1.

Referring to FIG. 17, the PACK correction circuit 902 comprises a delaycircuit 1810, a PACK 0 extracting circuit 1802, a PACK 1 extractingcircuit 1803, majority circuits 1806 and 1807, and a switching circuit1812.

Referring back to FIG. 8, a PACK is composed of five bytes, and theforemost first PACK header 801 defines the contents and the data formatof the remaining 4-byte data. In the present preferred embodiment, twotypes of PACKs, i.e., a PACK 0 in which the PACK header 801 is “0” and aPACK 1 in which the PACK header 801 is “1” are transmitted a pluralityof times in one frame. Upon transmitting the PACKs a plurality of times,the contents of the PACK is unified to the PACK presumed to be mostaccurate.

The input data 1801 inputted to the PACK correction circuit 902 istransmission group data of one transmission unit block grouped by thetransmission unit data constituting circuit 901, after performing acorrection process on the reproduced data by the error correctioncircuit of the VCR circuit 202.

The PACK 0 including the information of the television broadcastingsystem of the video signal and the like is recorded in the VAUX dataarea in the video sector shown in FIG. 6 on the magnetic tape, and isinputted as video data from the VCR circuit 202 to the digital interfacecircuit 201. The PACK 1 including the sampling frequency of the audiosignal, the number of channels, and the like is recorded in the AAUXdata area in the audio sector shown in FIG. 5 on the magnetic tape, andis inputted as audio data from the VCR circuit 202 to the digitalinterface circuit 201.

The PACK 0 extracting circuit 1802 extracts the PACK having the PACKheader 801 of “0” from the input data 1801. The extracted PACK 1804having the PACK header 801 of “0” is inputted to a majority circuit1806. The majority circuit 1806 checks the contents of the PACK data 802having the PACK header 801 of “0”, counts the numbers of PACKs havingthe PACK header 801 of “0” and identical contents every differentcontents of the PACK data 802, and selects and outputs the PACK of thegreatest counted number within one frame to the switching circuit 1812.

On the other hand, the PACK 1 extracting circuit 1803 extracts a PACKhaving the PACK header 801 of “1” from the input data 1801. Theextracted PACK 1805 having the PACK header 801 of “1” is inputted to amajority circuit 1807. The majority circuit 1807 checks the contents ofthe PACK data 802 having the PACK header 801 of “1”, counts the numberof PACKs having the PACK header 801 of “1” and identical contents everydifferent contents, and selects and outputs the PACK of the greatestcounted number in one frame, to the switching circuit 1812.

The output PACKs 1808 and 1809 are the PACKs outputted from the majoritycircuits 1806 and 1807. The delay circuit 1810 is provided for delayingthe input data 1801 by one frame, wherein one frame corresponds to theprocessing time interval of the PACK 0 extracting circuit 1802 and themajority circuit 1806, and the processing time interval of the PACK 1extracting circuit 1803 and the majority circuit 1807. The delayed data1811 is the data obtained by delaying the input data 1801 by one frameby means of the delay circuit 1810. Further, the switching circuit 1812is provided for replacing the PACK having the PACK header 801 of “0” andthe PACK having the PACK header 801 of “1” in the delay data 1811respectively with the PACK data 1808 and 1809. The output data 1813 fromthe switching circuit 1812 is the output data obtained by unifying thePACK having the PACK header 801 of “0” and the PACK having the PACKheader 801 of “1” to the PACKs having contents presumed to be mostaccurate.

The transmission group data of one transmission unit block arepreferably transmitted from one digital VCR to another digital VCR, in aform of packet. As shown in FIG. 18, a packet transceiver 903 fortransmitting and receiving the transmission group data of onetransmission unit block in a form of packet may be inserted between thePACK correction circuit 902 and the line cable 105.

Although the present preferred embodiment shows the case where thenumber of PACKs of which contents are unified is two, the number ofPACKs of which contents are unified may be increased by increasing thenumber of the majority circuits.

In regard to the audio signal, when, for example, a two-channel audiosignal is recorded, the signal can be edited independently in everychannel. Therefore, the AAUX has different contents in independentlyeditable units. Therefore, the AAUX related to the audio data istransmitted with its contents unified in independently editable units onthe magnetic tape within one frame.

According to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention,there can be solved such problems that the selection of the televisionbroadcasting system of the video signal and the setting of the samplingfrequency of the audio signal and the number of channels cannot beachieved in the digital VTR on the receiver side occurring when theerror correction is executed by mistake in the error correction stageand consequently the PACKs having different contents are transmitted inregard to the PACKs transmitted a plurality of times with identicalcontents.

Second Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 13 shows a transmission unit data constituting circuit 901 a of thesecond preferred embodiment according to the present invention, whichmay be replaced with the transmission unit data constituting circuit 901of the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

As is apparent from comparison between FIGS. 10 and 13, the differencesbetween the transmission unit data constituting circuits 901 and 901 aof the first and second preferred embodiments are as follows:

(a) the application ID input circuit 1020 is replaced with anapplication ID and section ID input circuit 1021; and

(b) the transmission unit data constituting circuit 901 furthercomprises a section ID generator 1050 and a section classifying circuit1301 which is inserted at the output stage of the grouping multiplexcircuit 1010.

A section ID representing whether the video and audio data are of thehigh-definition television broadcasting system or the current televisionbroadcasting system is inputted through the application ID and sectionID input circuit 1021 to the section ID generator 1050, which generatethe section ID of one bit for the DIF-ID and outputs the same to thesection classifying circuit 1301.

When the amount of data to be transmitted is greater as in thehigh-definition television broadcasting system as compared with that ofthe current television broadcasting system, the section classifyingcircuit 1301 classifies each DIF block in each group into sections, andadds section identification data generated by the section ID generator1050 to the DIF-ID in each DIF block. As shown in FIG. 13, thetransmission group data 1011 is inputted to the section classifyingcircuit 1301.

FIG. 14 shows a data format of a transmission unit block structureformed by the transmission unit data constituting circuit 901 a shown inFIG. 13.

Since FIG. 14 shows an example in which the transmission is executed inthe high-definition television broadcasting system, two same DIF blocksare continuously arranged. The above arrangement is provided becausedata of the high-definition television broadcasting system areclassified into two sections. In this case, a section identificationdata 1401 of one bit and a block identification data of each DIF blockare incorporated in the DIF-ID of each block. The section identificationdata of one bit is an identifier indicating which section the DIF blockbelongs to. The block identification data is information for identifyingeach DIF block in each section.

In the present preferred embodiment, the section identification data1401 is assumed to be “0” in every DIF block for the current televisionbroadcasting system. Since the amount of data to be transmitted in thehigh-definition television broadcasting system is designed to be towtimes as great as that of the current television broadcasting system inthe present preferred embodiment, there exist a DIF block where thesection identification data is “0” and a DIF block where the sectionidentification data is “1”, namely, two kinds of section identificationdata 0 and 1.

According to the present preferred embodiment, the amount of data of thehigh-definition television broadcasting system is made to be an integer“N” multiple of the volume of data of the current televisionbroadcasting system, and the DIF block of the high-definition televisionbroadcasting system is divided into a plurality of sections. In thiscase, the transmission rate of the high-definition televisionbroadcasting system may be preferable set to an integer “N” times aslarge as that of the current television broadcasting system.

The above-mentioned arrangement allows the number of blocks in eachsection to be identical in both of the high-definition televisionbroadcasting system and the current television broadcasting system.Therefore, the circuit structure can be made identical in both of thehigh-definition television broadcasting system and the currenttelevision broadcasting system.

According to the data transmission apparatus provided with thetransmission unit data constituting circuit 901 a of the secondpreferred embodiment, the transmission can be achieved in the sametransmitting manner in both of the current television broadcastingsystem and the high-definition television broadcasting system, therebyproducing a remarkable great advantageous effect of reducing the circuitscale of the transmission apparatus.

In the present preferred embodiment, the case where data of both of thehigh-definition television broadcasting system and the currenttelevision broadcasting system can be transmitted is described, however,the present invention is not limited to this. The present preferredembodiment can be applied to any transmission or broadcasting systems insuch a case that the amount of data of a second transmission system isset to an integer N times as large as that of the amount of data of areference first transmission system.

Third Preferred embodiment

FIG. 15 shows a transmission unit data constituting circuit 901 b of thethird preferred embodiment according to the present invention, which maybe replaced with the transmission unit data constituting circuit 901 ofthe first preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

As is apparent from comparison between FIGS. 10 and 15, the differencesbetween the transmission unit data constituting circuits 901 and 901 bof the first and third preferred embodiments are as follows:

(a) the application ID input circuit 1020 is replaced with anapplication ID and transmission flag input circuit 1022.

In the present preferred embodiment, data of one or a plurality ofsectors among the three sectors of the audio sector 402, the videosector 403 and the subcode sector 404 is allowed to be not transmitted.Whether the data of each sector is to be transmitted is indicated by theabove-mentioned transmission flag. In other words, the transmission flagrepresents whether or not the DIF block for each sector is to betransmitted. In the present preferred embodiment, the transmission flag1 represents that the DIF block is to be transmitted, while thetransmission flag 0 represents that the DIF block is not to betransmitted.

The application ID and transmission flag input circuit 1020 outputs thetransmission flag and the application IDs including the APT, the AP1,the AP2 and AP3 recorded onto a magnetic tape or reproduced from amagnetic tape to the DIF block structure generator 1030. The DIF blockstructure generator 1030 generates a DIF-ID for each sector based on theapplication IDs including the APT, the AP1, the AP2 and the AP3, and thetransmission flag, and outputs the same to the block forming circuits1004, 1005 and 1006.

In response to the transmission flag 1, each of the block formingcircuits 1004, 1005 and 1006 forms and outputs the DIF block for eachsector to the grouping multiplex circuit 1010. On the other hand, inresponse to the transmission flag 0, each of the block forming circuits1004, 1005 and 1006 does not form any DIF block for this sector, and ofcourse, does not output any DIF block. That is, no DIF block isgenerated for the sector determined to be not transmitted according tothe indication of the transmission flag.

In the third preferred embodiment, the transmission is executed with thetransmission flag arranged at every sector in the header DIF block. Bydecoding the header flag on the side of reception, the existence orabsence of the sector transmitted subsequent to the header DIF block canbe identified. Therefore, in transmitting only a specified sector, onlythe DIF block related to the sector can be transmitted, which can reducethe amount of data to be transmitted, thereby allowing advantageouseffective use of the transmission line. In this case, the packettransceiver 903 shown in FIG. 18 may be preferably provided in order toobtain an efficient use of the transmission line.

Fourth Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 16 shows a transmission unit data constituting circuit 901 c of thefourth preferred embodiment, which may be replaced with the transmissionunit data constituting circuit 901 of the first preferred embodimentshown in FIG. 10.

As is apparent from comparison between FIGS. 10 and 16, the differencesbetween the transmission unit data constituting circuits 901 and 901 cof the first and fourth preferred embodiments are as follows:

(a) an application ID memory 1031 for temporarily storing theapplication IDs is further provided so as to be connected to the DIF-IDgenerator 1030 and the header DIF block generator 1040.

The application IDs including the APT, the AP1, the AP2 and the AP3 foreach track and each sector are stored in the application ID memory 1031.When the application IDs are indefinite due to reproduction error or thelike of the recording apparatus, the block formation is executed by eachof the block forming circuits 1004, 1005 and 1006 according to thestructure of the DIF block immediately before the indefinite track orsector stored in the application ID memory 1030. That is, theapplication IDs including the APT, the AP1, the AP2 and the AP3 aregenerated by the DIF-ID generator 1030, and then are arranged in theheader DIF block by each of the block forming circuits 1004, 1005 and1006.

Further, if the APT can not be received, the header DIF block generatormay form a header DIF block including the APT of the previous trackstored in the application ID memory 1031, and then outputs the headerDIF block to the grouping multiplex circuit 1010.

In this case, as a value of the indefinite application ID, a specifiedvalue representing the indefiniteness is transmitted as the applicationID flag.

In the fourth preferred embodiment, when the track structure flag or anyapplication ID representing the sector structure vanishes due toreproduction error or another factor, a DIF data block is constructed bymeans of the previous corresponding track structure or sector structureand then is transmitted. With the above-mentioned arrangement, even whenany application IDs vanishes, data can be transmitted without anyintermission or interruption. For the vanished application ID, bytransmitting a specified value representing the vanishment ofapplication ID, the vanishment of the application ID can be perceived onthe receiver side.

In this case, in the receiver side, an application ID memory similar tothe application ID memory 1031 may be provided.

The number and types of the sectors may be changed from those of theabove-mentioned preferred embodiments. Furthermore, a part of the dataon the track may be transmitted as arranged in the header DIF block. Ina practical case, a structure other than that of any of those of theabove-mentioned preferred embodiments or a structure implemented bysoftware may be adopted. Also a structure achieved by combining thesecond, third and fourth preferred embodiments may be adopted.

By transmitting the application IDs in the header DIF block according tothe second, third and fourth preferred embodiments, the data format ofthe DIF block subsequent to the header DIF block can be identified.Therefore, no matter how the recording format on the magnetic tape ischanged, the digital interface format can be changed to a data formatappropriate for the recording format according to the present preferredembodiments of the present invention.

Furthermore, the transmission flag in the header DIF block enablesindication of not transmitting a sector every sector. With theabove-mentioned arrangement, when only specified sectors are to betransmitted, the amount of data to be transmitted can be remarkablyreduced. This allows the transmission band of the digital interface tobe used effectively when a plurality of apparatuses are simultaneouslycommunicating with each other.

The data transmission apparatus according to the present preferredembodiment of the present invention as described above can deal with avarious kinds of data transmission patterns in a simple manner, therebyproducing a remarkably great advantageous practical effect.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be notedhere that various changes and modifications will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes andmodifications depart from the scope of the present invention as definedby the appended claims, they should be construed as included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. The data transmission apparatus for transmittinginputted digital video data and digital audio data together withinputted digital auxiliary data related to said digital video data andsaid digital audio data, said auxiliary data being transmitted aplurality of times in one frame, comprising: at least one dataextracting means for extracting said inputted digital auxiliary datafrom input data including said digital video data, said digital audiodata and said digital auxiliary data; at least one majority means forcounting the respective numbers of the digital auxiliary data having thesame contents among a plurality of inputted digital auxiliary data, andselecting and outputting the auxiliary data of the greatest countednumber in one frame; and switching means for switching said input dataand said auxiliary data of the greatest counted number in one frameoutputted from said majority means, wherein said input data ioncludingsaid digital video data, said audio data and said digital auxiliarydata, so as to output and transmit said digital video data, said digitalaudio data and said digital auxiliary data, together with said auxiliarydata of the greatest counted number in one frame outputted from saidmajority means, by replacing said auxiliary data included in said inputdata, with said auxiliary data of the greatest counted number in oneframe outputted from said majority means.
 2. The data transmissionapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said majority means counts therespective numbers of the digital auxiliary data having the samecontents related to said audio data, every channel of said audio data,among a plurality of inputted digital auxiliary data related to saidaudio data, and selects and outputs the auxiliary data of the greatestcounted number in one frame which is related to said audio data.
 3. Themethod for transmitting inputted digital video data and digital audiodata together with inputted digital auxiliary data to related to saiddigital video data and said digital audio data, said auxiliary databeing transmitted a plurality of times in one frame, including thefollowing steps of: extracting said inputted digital auxiliary data frominput data including said digital video data, said digital audio dataand said digital auxiliary data; counting the respective numbers of thedigital auxiliary data having the same contents among a plurality ofinputted digital auxiliary data, and selecting and outputting theauxiliary data of the greatest counted number in one frame; andswitching said input data and said outputted auxiliary data of thegreatest counted number in one frame, wherein said input data includingsaid digital video data, said audio data and said digital auxiliarydata, so as to output and transmit said digital video data, said digitalaudio data and said digital auxiliary data, together with said outputtedauxiliary data of the greatest counted number in one frame, by replacingsaid auxiliary data included in said input data, with said outputtedauxiliary data of the greatest counted number in one frame.
 4. Themethod as claimed in claim 3, wherein said counting step includes a stepof counting the respective numbers of the digital auxiliary data havingthe same contents related to said audio data, every channel of saidaudio data, among a plurality of inputted digital auxiliary data relatedto said audio data, and selecting and outputting the auxiliary data ofthe greatest counted number in one frame which is related to said audiodata.
 5. The data transmission apparatus for transmitting inputteddigital video data and digital data together with inputted digitalauxiliary data to related to said digital video data and said digitalaudio data, said auxiliary data being transmitted a plurality of timesin one frame, comprising; at least one data extracting means forextracting said inputted digital auxiliary data from input dataincluding said digital video data, said digital audio data and saiddigital auxiliary data; at least one unifying means for the contents ofthe pack to the pack presumed to be the most accurate in one frame; andswitching means for switching said input data and said auxiliary datapresumed to be the most accurate in one frame outputted from saidunifying means, wherein said input data including said digital videodata, said audio data and a said digital auxiliary data, so as to outputand transmit said digital video data, said digital audio data and saiddigital auxiliary data, together with said auxiliary data presumed to bethe most accurate in one frame outputted from said unifying means, byreplacing said auxiliary data included in said input data, with saidauxiliary data presumed to be the most accurate in one frame outputtedfrom said unifying means.
 6. The method for transmitting inputteddigital video data and digital audio data together with inputted digitalauxiliary data to related to said digital video data and said digitalaudio data, said auxiliary data being transmitted a plurality of timesin one frame, including the following steps of; extracting said inputteddigital auxiliary data from input data including said digital videodata, said digital audio data and said digital auxiliary data; unifyingthe contents of the pack to the pack presumed to be the most accurate inone frame; and switching said input data and said outputted auxiliarydata presumed to be the most accurate in one frame, wherein said inputdata including said digital video data, said audio data and a saiddigital auxiliary data, so as to output and transmit said digital videodata, said digital audio data and said digital auxiliary data, togetherwith said outputted auxiliary data presumed to be the most accurate inone frame, by replacing said auxiliary data included in said input data,with said outputted auxiliary data presumed to be the most accurate inone frame.